Adventurous Crook Point Elopement // The Oregon Coast

An adventurous elopement on the Southern Oregon Coast at Crook Point.

Oregon showed up in its truest way on this elopement day — the hills and coast covered in low clouds, misty air, and rolling stormy waves. It was a beautiful fall day for an adventure elopement at Crook Point!

Dianne and Jeff are true champions at embracing every aspect of their day, even the weather! The drizzly skies didn’t steal their joy one single bit, and the excitement they both had was so contagious. Dianne told me, “he is the hum to my soul.” Jeff had a smile on his face every second of the day, and laughed with pure happiness the second they were announced as husband and wife. Their kindness and love is something I’ll always remember.

They rented an airbnb on a clifftop for the weekend (talk about a DREAMY getaway spot), and scouted out a bluff overlooking a private cove for their intimate ceremony.

It was just the two of them. Small, intimate, and so meaningful.

We hiked the trail in the rain out to a grove of trees where they said their vows to each other. Then, the rain stopped for 10 minutes for us to walk out to the point for photos and to soak up the view before returning to their airbnb for some bubbly and cake. They even hired a private chef to prepare them a romantic dinner to celebrate!

Every little piece of this day was beautiful.

DETAILS

VENUE // CROOK POINT
DRESS // WILLOWBY WATTERS
SUIT // MACYS & NORDSTROM
LOCATIONS // AIRBNB & OREGON COAST
FOOD // BLACK MARKET GOURMET
FLORALS // ABUNDANT BLOOMS
CAKE // COASTAL MIST

Summer Anniversary Photos // Columbia River Gorge, OR

These two picked a summer evening on the Oregon Columbia River Gorge for their anniversary photo session!

Summer evenings in the gorge are magical — golden skies, illuminated clifftops, lush forests, and warm, windy nights. There are so many incredible locations along the river for photos, but this might just be one of my favorites. I was so excited when these two reached out wanting their anniversary photos in the gorge!

Grateful for peaceful spaces and gorgeous views, and wonderful people to adventure with!

Intimate A-Frame Cabin Wedding // Mt. Rainier, WA

An intimate wedding day at an A-frame cabin in the forest near Mt. Rainier National Park — a beautiful, tiny ceremony with close friends and family.

These two must have a thing for cabins (and I LOVE it) — we spent a morning at a cabin in the Oregon woods near Mt. Hood for their engagement photos, then they found this adorable a-frame cabin on a river near Mt. Rainier National Park. Dreams do come true!

Paige & Brenden chose to have an intimate day, a small micro wedding with their closest friends and family. With wild fires burning across the West Coast, there was a layer of smoke that hung in the sky, but it only added to the moody, soft vibe that these two had wanted!

They had the most beautiful ceremony on the deck of the cabin, ending with a collection group shot of champagne (my new favorite way to end a ceremony)! Then, they spent the evening laughing, sharing stories, snapping polaroids, and dancing under the trees. With a long table set for dinner along the river to share a meal together, it truly felt like “family” being a part of this day — every single detail was intentional.

Grateful to be a part of sacred moments like these, enjoy these snapshots of their day!

THE DETAILS

DRESS // a&bé bridal shop
FLORIST // Wild Fern Florals
VENUE // Airbnb near Mt. Rainier National Park

Pacific Northwest Engagement Photos // Columbia River Gorge, OR // Mason & Grace

One of my newly discovered favorite locations in the Columbia River Gorge for engagement photos! This beautiful river spot has the most gorgeous views of the mountains reflecting in the water!

The Columbia River Gorge just East of Portland, OR is one of my FAVORITE places to watch sunset! It’s also one of the most beautiful drives — mountains on one side, river on the other. As the sun goes down, the entire gorge is illuminated with light, and the colors change every minute of the sun dipping down!

Spending the evening with these two, exploring a new location, was SO MUCH FUN. We had a blast trailblazing through the long weed-y grass, splashing in the river, watching salmon jump, and spotting sea lions (yep, that’s a thing in the river).

Grateful for amazing humans, stunning views, and deep breaths out in the wilderness!

Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast Elopement // Kaci & Dallin

WE CHASED THE SUN FROM ROCKY COASTLINES, TO COASTAL FORESTS, TO GOLDEN BEACH SUNSETS — THIS OREGON COAST INTIMATE WEDDING WAS PURE MAGIC!

These two travelled across many states to have their intimate wedding elopement day on the Oregon coast! Surrounded by just family (with the Pacific Ocean as their witness), they said their vows and spent the rest of the day frolicking along the beach, exploring lush coastal forests, eating fish tacos, and having cake and donuts as the sun set! My. Kind. Of. Day.

The Oregon Coast — especially Cannon Beach — can get pretty crowded in the summer months! But, these two scouted out the perfect little cove for their wedding ceremony, and had the whole corner just to themselves! I love when ceremonies have a unique aspect to them — in the middle of the ceremony, these two had everyone (including themselves) go and find a rock or pebble to bring to the “alter” and surround them with. A family roundedness for their promises. Then, they kept the rock they had chosen — a pretty special souvenir if you ask me!!

I adore these two — and being a part of their day was so incredibly special. They have such warm hearts, and I immediately felt like I was a part of the family! They truly embraced their day and went with the flow of whatever happened next. Every single second of it was soaked up to the fullest! If you’ve read my blog post on “Why Eloping or Having a Small Wedding is so Special” then you know my thoughts behind these special kinds of days — and Kaci & Dallin REALLY REALLY lived into all of it. It was beautiful.

I’m grateful I got to savor this piece of their story.

xx

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DAY DETAILS —

GETTING READY SPACE // AIRBNB
CEREMONY LOCATION // CANNON BEACH, OR
FLORALS // SOLABEE, FLOWERS & BOTANICALS
DINNER // TOM’S FISH & CHIPS

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Desert Lake Couple Photos // Bend, OR

A DREAMY EVENING OVERLOOKING A DESERT LAKE FOR THESE COUPLE PHOTOS IN CENTRAL OREGON

Golden hour is always magical — but, when you’re standing on a cliff overlooking a desert lake with mountains in the background, it’s a new level of beauty.

I had a blast exploring the central Oregon lake views with these two on this lovely summer evening. It was impossible not to take some pretty grand images with that background!

Always grateful for new friends, windy + golden evenings, and exploring this beautiful state!

Desert Evening Elopement // Central Oregon

ALL THE GOLDEN HOUR, DESERT ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT VIBES FOR THESE TWO! THE PERFECT SUMMER NIGHT, AMAZING VIEWS, AND INCREDIBLE PEOPLE — SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

We arrived at the desert butte and grasslands just as the sun was starting to make the canyon glow! Kyra & Michael got ready in the parking lot (with the final touches being lint rolling puppy hair off his suit jacket haha)! They put on their old wedding clothes — almost two years later — and we captured some magic in the desert!

It was such a beautiful evening, running from one amazing view point to the next! Summer exploring is one of my favorite things, and good company makes it even better!

Excited for many more summer evenings to come!

DRESS // A&BÉ BRIDAL SHOP
FLORALS // UFLORA
EARRINGS // AMANDA MICHELLE HANDMADE

Rowena Crest Couple Session // Columbia River Gorge

A SUMMER AFTERNOON SPENT FROLICKING AROUND THE WINDY CLIFFTOPS OF ROWENA CREST OVERLOOKING THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE!

The rolling golden hills at Rowena Crest were dancing with the wind when we all arrived at the Columbia river Gorge overlook! It was so fun to prance around and laugh SO MUCH during these photos! It was an absolute blast to hang out and enjoy the summer afternoon together!

THINGS TO DO AROUND ROWENA CREST VIEWPOINT —

// Eat at Eastwind Drive-in

// Coffee at Dog River Coffee Co.

// Stay at The Society Hotel, Bingen

Intimate Portland Wedding at Tendue // Mallory & Robbie

This intimate Portland city wedding chose to embrace joy and presence, even in the midst of COVID-19 chaos and the roller coaster of plan changes! It was a BEAUTIFUL day full of so much love and laughter!

I adore these two!! We’ve been chatting about their wedding since early 2019, and it’s been an honor to both watch and walk alongside them in this journey! They have been absolute CHAMPS as they’ve rolled with the punches of 2020 and plan changes! I’m so grateful to have couples who are so gracious and still choose to experience all the joy a day holds — no matter what it looks like!

This intimate wedding was a small gathering of their close friends and a few family members — joined by a zoom party of other guests (of course)! They truly chose presence, and the whole wedding day was so fun to be a part of! I loved everything about these sweet moments.

So so so thankful that I get to witness some pretty amazing stories!

THE AMAZING VENDORS:

DRESS // BHLDN

SUIT // INDOCHINO

FLORALS // POPPIES & PAISELY

VENUE // TENDUE

PLANNER + STYLING // ROSEDAE EVENTS CO.

CATERER // WHITE PEPPER

Hood River Cabin Engagement Session // Paige & Brenden

A COZY, IN HOME ENGAGEMENT SESSION IN HOOD RIVER OREGON!

If you live in Oregon or have spent any time here in the winter, then you know it can be pretty rainy during the fall through spring! So, that means that for winter engagement photos (if it’s an extra stormy week), you have to get creative!

AND, let me tell ya, there are LOTS of cool places! Just jump on Airbnb or VRBO and you’ll find a list of places that you can rent to have some cozy in home photos together! I love this idea, because it also is a great excuse to make a fun overnight trip out of it! A little getaway together AND photos savoring that too!

These two found an adorable cabin in the woods near Hood River, Oregon! They had coffee, played their fave music, and got all the cuddling while getting to stay cozy inside! If you think you might want something like this for YOUR engagement photos, shoot me a message! I have a list of amazing Airbnbs you should check out!

Van Life Couple Adventure Session // Joshua Tree, California

THIS ADVENTURE COUPLE SESSION MADE ME WANT TO PACK UP, MOVE INTO A COOL VAN, AND TRAVEL THE DESERT AND CALIFORNIA COASTLINE!

Hello, meet the coolest van life couple EVER! Also, the kindest humans you’ll ever meet! After hanging with Lydia and Philip for that afternoon, we all wanted to just keep chatting for hours! Check out their Instagram to follow along on all their van-lifing adventures together!

Grateful for these sunny, desert adventures together in Joshua Tree National Park!

Adventure Elopement in Joshua Tree National Park // Boho Modern Inspiration

An adventurous evening in Joshua Tree National Park for this styled adventure elopement! Check out all the moments to get ideas for your own special day!

Joshua Tree National Park had my jaw dropping within the first few minutes! I was captivated by the large, unique rock formations, the one-of-a-kind Joshua Trees themselves, and the overall golden desert vibe!

This adventure elopement was styled for our Makers & Movers Workshop, and was so fun to capture! It’s full of boho modern pops to fuel your elopement ideas and planning!

Check out these amazing vendors who played a part in making this creation come to life:

WORKSHOP // Makers & Movers Workshop

COUPLE // Danielle & Rodney

DRESS // A&bé Sacramento

JEWELRY // Serpentine & Fair

FLORALS // With Flourish

HAT // Equal Uprise

TUX // Zara

Enjoy all the pics, and dreaming about your own desert elopement!

A Guide to Traveling Southern Thailand // Tips for the Best Itinerary

A PEAK INTO HOW WE SPENT 2 WEEKS TRAVELING AROUND AND ISLAND HOPPING IN SOUTHERN THAILAND! I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW TIPS, GO INTO THE DETAILS, AND MENTION SOME “BESTS” FROM OUR CRAZY JOURNEY! HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE A GUIDE TO YOUR OWN FUTURE TROPICAL ADVENTURES!

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Southern Thailand really is a gem — island hopping, crystal clear turquoise water, gorgeous snorkeling, the yummiest food, the coolest places to stay, cheap transportation, the kindest people — it’s the best!

We had planned to spend a month in Thailand (which you can EASILY do + more), but ended up cutting our trip short due to the COVID-19 outbreak. These two weeks were still well spent and full of incredible experiences! We’ll definitely be back!

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PHUKET > 6 DAYS

RAILAY > 3 DAYS

PHI PHI > 2 DAYS

KOH LANTA > 3 DAYS

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I. PHUKET // 6 DAYS

WHERE WE STAYED:

We jumped on Airbnb and found the coolest bungalows in Rawai called the Coco Palace. This was right near Nai Harn beach, which is a gorgeous white sand beach that isn’t as touristy as the beaches up North (Patong, Karon, or Kata Noi). It also came with a fresh, homemade breakfast each morning.

THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:

• Kayak and snorkel off Yanui Beach

• Motorbike around to explore (especially up to some view points - ie Panwa Viewpoint)

• Spend a day at Nai Harn - wave bobbing + sun tanning

• FOOD FOOD FOOD (more tips below)

• Check out the markets! G-Market food stalls and the Sunday Old Town night Market are my faves! You’ll find a bunch of cool things for a great deal and eat the BEST food!

• Walk through Old Town during the day as well, super cool architecture and shops!

• Coffee - our faves were: YES Coffee and Campus Coffee Roasters

• One nice sunset dinner at After Beach Bar (we mostly did budget food options - which are the YUMMIEST - but splurged one night for some epic views while dining).

II. RAILAY // 3 DAYS

WHERE WE STAYED:

Having been to Railay before, we settled with the same place that we stayed last time - Railay Princess Resort. It’s not on the main beach which has some pros and cons. Pros: it’s quiet, feels more private, and is cheaper. Cons: it’s a bit of a walk from where the ferry lets you off (aka the main beach), the east beach isn’t as pretty, and… that’s all actually haha! It’s a gorgeous property with two pools - a jungle-y one and an infinity pool on the roof with a view. The breakfast is included and delicious and all the staff is wonderful!

THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:

• Railay is SMALL - you walk everywhere and can easily explore!

• Walk the main strip - lots of food, fun shops, and fresh fruit shakes! You can also check out ALL the excursions offered here (rock climbing, night kayaking, paddle boarding, boat tours, etc.).

• Grab some kayaks at Sand Sea resort on the main beach front and head out for 2+ hours. We explored all the little limestone islands, paddled through sea caves, and climbed ropes hanging from stalactites jump into the water! SO SO SO fun!

• Explore all the pathways, you’ll find some more secretive beaches and coves! Just watch out for the grabby monkeys… they like to steal your water bottles… and everything else.

• Check out the “food boats” on Phra Nang Cave Beach

• Hike INSIDE Bat Caves on the west side of Phra Nang Beach… it’s a little secretive and tricky to find, ask staff at your hotel to point you in the right direction! Beware, not for people with claustrophobia (that was tough for me, lots of moral support was needed haha). There is a SICK view at the top of the opening!

• Another hike that’s more for the experience (and kinda for the view), is on your left when walking down the pathway to Phra Nang beach. You may see some brave souls using the ropes and vines to make their way up or down… yep, just go straight up!

• For dinner, grab it to go and head to the main west beach. Put some towels down and watch the sunset illuminate the sky with SO many colors! Then, check your left after the sun goes down and watch millions of bats fill the sky way above as they fly out into the jungle!

• Enjoy the night life - whether that’s watching fire dancers on the beach or wandering through the main strip to grab a Chang beer!

III. PHI PHI // 2 DAYS

WHERE WE STAYED:

We stayed at a cute beach front bungalow resort called Paradise Pearl. With our own little beach and restaurant, it was a great place to hang out for the day!

THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:

• SNORKLE SNORKLE SNORKLE - hire a private long tail boat near where you’re staying to boat you out to the different islands. This was an amazing experience! Avoid the tourist trap speed boats - this was cheaper and we could stop wherever we wanted for however long we wanted. It was awesome. Friends, the sea life here is UNBELIEVABLE. So many fish and colors, and we even swam with a small reef shark. Wild, so incredible! We spent 5 hours out snorkeling!

• Enjoy the clearest water, float and cool off between tanning sessions on your white sand beach.

• We walked from our bungalows into downtown Phi Phi for dinner one night - about 20 mins. There are tons of food options and a fun night market to explore as well!

IV. KOH LANTA // 3 DAYS

WHERE WE STAYED:

This might have been my favorite place we stayed - Alama Sea Village Resort - on the south end of Koh Lanta. It has gorgeous modern bungalows that overlook the ocean from the hillside. You can even enjoy the view while floating in the infinity pool!

THINGS TO DO + PLACES TO GO:

Koh Lanta was by far the most chill place to visited! Everyone was incredibly laid back and it seemed a bit less touristy. A hidden gem, for sure!

• We did lots of pool hangs, relaxing and soaking up the sun from our hillside perch.

• Explore the jungle roads by motorbike (watch for monkey crossings)!

• Our favorite beach was Bamboo Beach, it was a peaceful more private cove.

• Head to the East side to explore the cute fishing town - lots of shops and restaurants. Just drive safely over the twisty, old mountain roads!

This is very much a “take it easy” kind of place. It was an awesome place to end our trip, although it ended abruptly, we were glad it was in such a peaceful place!

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A FEW OTHER THINGS —

ALL THINGS FOOD + DRINK

• Lots and lots of Thai Iced Tea ($75 cents)

• Mango and Coconut shakes were my fave

• Try iced Blue Butterfly Pea Tea - UH-MAZING!

• Eat Banana Rhoti - the best kind of “pancake” you’ll ever have

• Get some Mango & Sticky Rice - I could eat this EVERY. FREAKING. DAY.

• Fave Noodles to try: Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Yum Woon Sen, and “Noodle Soup”

• Fave Curries: Green Curry, Red Curry, and Massaman Curry

• Fave Other Dishes: Pad Krapow (spicy basil chicken), Morning Glory (garlic + greens), and papaya salad (so yummy and fresh)

• Want a quick refresher? Grab a lime Manao Soda from any convenience store!

TRANSPORTATION

• We got motorbikes in the bigger towns: Phuket and Koh Lanta. It’s the best and cheapest way to get around - $8 bucks a day! Just DRIVE SAFELY - it’s an adjustment if you’re not used to that type of traffic OR driving on the left side of the road.

• In places we didn’t get motorbikes, we either walked or used the “GRAB” app (basically Thailand’s version of Uber or Lyft). Most hotels can help you book transport as well!

• Between islands, we took the local ferries. You can book them online ahead of time and just print the tickets out! PRO TIP: load the ferry and sit outside on the deck!! You can hang your feet off the edge, get that cool breeze, and not be cramped inside an overcrowded cabin!

A FEW TIPS

• Buy snorkel gear there - SO cheap and will save you money over renting each time! We bought ours at Decathlon in Phuket for around $10 each.

• Get up early - we woke up several time for sunrise beach walks, and basically had the WHOLE place to ourselves! It’s cooler, quieter, and pure magic!

• Buy big bottles of cold water - not only do you need to stay hydrated, but holding a bottle of ice cold water did wonders in cooling us down during those hot days!

• 7-Eleven is life - Walking the hot streets mid-day? Need a cool break? Pop into a 7-Eleven and be hit with the most refreshing AC you’ve ever felt! I’ve never been into a 7-Eleven so many times!! Take these little pit stops to chill for a sec, grab a cheap cold drink, and hit the heat again!

• Tiger fish swarming - sounds scarier than it is! Just know - when snorkeling, there are schools of striped yellow & black fish that are NOT shy and will swim all up in yo’ face!!! They don’t bite or do anything harmful really, but it definitely took some getting used to (and lots of screaming through my snorkel) to finally be a little more chill swimming with them!

• Find the cheap food - try to avoid tourist traps! Yes, this is hard, and we definitely fell into some! Do your best to look for the local, small business eateries. Clues to finding them: family owned, not much english (if any) on the menus, and 30-50 Baht meals. SO YUMMY. The best food by far!

• For super cheap stays - check out some hostels! We went with more medium priced bungalows and resorts (‘cuz hey, still so cheap)! BUT, there are even cheaper options - check out Hostel World to find some rad overnight places!

• Free breakfasts - everywhere we stayed had breakfast included! Which was SO nice! Most places have fresh fruit, omelet stations, and coffee, along with a variety of other choices! This made starting the day so easy and FREE! Something to think about when choosing a place to stay.

• Planning your day - we always tried to plan our day with thinking about the heat. The mornings are often cooler, so we would go do our adventure first thing: hike, snorkel, drive around, etc. Then, make sure we were near some type of water (beach or pool) for the afternoon so we could constantly be cooling off! Evenings were always good for town walks, avoiding the sun and day heat as much as possible for meandering!

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take a peak at a couple phone pics from along the way! 👇🏻

HERE IS A DETAILED MAP OF EACH LOCATION

PHUKET // RAILAY // PHI PHI // KOH LANTA

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A FEW MORE PHOTOS FROM THE TRIP

Andie and I swapped a few photos along the way so we could have some of Josiah and I and her and Mikal! The perks of traveling with another photographer, photo swaps for life! ;)

Dreamy 70s Retro Vibe Elopement Inspiration // Joshua Tree, California

IF YOU’RE ON THE SEARCH FOR SOME RAD 70s RETRO ELOPEMENT INSPIRATION, THEN YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

The desert vibes of Joshua Tree California paired with some fun 70s styling created this magic for our Makers & Movers Workshop styled shoot!

This amazing shoot could not have been done without the collaboration of these incredible team members! We couldn’t have imagined everything coming together any better!

Excited to share these photos to power your imagination and inspire you with ideas for your own special day! If you’re thinking of eloping in Joshua Tree, check out these vendors to build your vision:

WORKSHOP // Makers & Movers

COORDINATION & DESIGN // Wilder Events Co.

COUPLE // Katie & Joe

DRESS // Lovely Bride LA

JEWELRY // Serpentine & Fair

WEDDING BANDS // Sharon Z Jewelry

CALLIGRAPHER // Summit & Sage

FLORALS // Bluebell Florals

CAKE // Fantasy Frostings

H&MU // Chelsea Nicole

RENTALS // Otis & Pearl

TUX // ASOS

We began with a bit of cozy in home time in our desert airbnb! Joe and Katie spent time getting ready together before we headed out on gorgeous property to hang out with the Joshua Trees.

Northern California Waterfall Couples Session

Spent a sunny day with these two gems exploring this Northern California Waterfall in Lassen National Park!

As you explore Lassen National Forest, you may stumble across this gem of a waterfall in Shasta County. It truly appears out of nowhere, and if you get there at just the right time of day, it’s grandness draws you in with the sun beans bursting through the sprays of water!

Loved getting to explore California’s beauty with these two!

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